Combination bowl and adjustable moisture tight cover therefor



DBQ 1936- 5. J. BRANDSTEIN 2,064,411

COMBINATION BOWL AND ADJUSTABLE MOISTURE TIGHT COVER THEREFOR Filed Feb. '8, 1956 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 15, 193% i 2,064,4ll

attain marrow BOWL Ann Anrns'rrn MOHSTIURE THGHT COVER EREF UR Samuel J. Brandstein, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application February 8, 1936, Serial No. 62,9ii'l 2 illaims'.

This invention relates to devices such as containers and has particular reference to containers for perishable products such as foodstuffs and other materials whose moisture content it is desired to maintain or which it is necessary to keep out of contact with dust and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a container of the character described and. for any or all of the purposes mentioned, having improved closure means for completely remov-' able interchangeable engagement with container bodies of different sizes, in such manner that the closure means is reliably maintained on a container body preferably upon the simple operation of applying the closure means thereto.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a container as set forth having an improved cover which is not only engageable with container bodies of different sizes, but is movable or expandible relative thereto to provide a variable capacity for any given container while maintaining the same relatively completely closed.

Another object of the invention is theprovision of a container as described having an improved closure of relatively light limp material, which closure is nevertheless adapted for relatively air tight engagement with a container body preferably without any manipulation other than the operation of merely applying the closure to the container body.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a container having an improved cover of a limp fabric removable as an entirety from the container body and adapted to be easily cleaned. and washed, which cover is further adapted for use with container bodies of different sizes and is reliably attachable in a uniform annular manner to the rim portion of the container body without requiring the special manipulation or -the use of fasteners. and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a container having a limp closure means cooperating with the container body in an improved manner for positioning the closure at a predetermined point, and/or affording an improved seal with the container body, where the limp character of the closure is in itself unadapted for these purposes.'

A further object of the invention is to prov de a container, such as a bowl, and an improved cover therefor of a flexible nonporous washable material which will not readily stain or soil, said container having few and simple parts, and being adapted for inexpensive manufacture, and being easy and convenient in operation, and durable, reliable, and emcient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the inventionyrill become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the an-- nexed drawing, wherein like parts are desig nated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device em bodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1., showing the container with its contents.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation, partly in section, showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing another modification oi the invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view with parts removed showing a further modification of the invention.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l6 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may consist of a container which may comprise a container body Ill, and a cover it therefor. The advantages of the invention may be well exemplified by showing the container body as an ordinary bowl which may consist of porcelain, clay, Bakelite, or the like, and of the type in usual kitchen use.

The cover it therefor may consist of a relatively limp or flexible material, such as a knitted or textile fabric, paper, or sheet composition material, such as cellophane or the like. Preferably the material is one which is airtight and moisture proof, and where used for foods, it ought not to be influenced by solvents or acids that may come in contact therewith. The utility of the invention may be increased by using a material which can be readily cleaned or washed. Desirably the material may be transparent or at least translucent. I have found that so called oiled silk is particularly advan-v tageous. However, the other materials mentioned may be used in plain or treated condition according to the nature of the products to be enclosed in the container and the. circumstances under which they are to be kept or stored.

The cover it may consist of a sheet of the material mentioned, cut to the shape of the container body I2, and marginally contracted by any suitable means, such as straw strings, elastics, and the like. For instance, the cover may have a marginal hem forming ribbon II, which may be longitudinally folded to'receive the edge of the cover, and stitched thereto, as at I. The ribbon i3 may afford a housing tor an elastic or other tensioning element, or may itself be elastic, to thus afiord a marginal contractible means for engaging around the rim of the bowl to removably secure the cover thereto.

It will now be seen that the container body need be characterized merely by an annular or rim portion Ha. around which the contractible means 83 is engageable. Said rim portion or the adjacent side wall it of the container body may be so formed or downwardly tapered as to perhalt the contractile means to securely engage the bowl; The cover, in the construction shown, is characterized by a top portion 16 and by an annular depending skirt portion H which may be produced by the contractile portion 3.

The contractile means it tends to constantly slide downward along the wall it to cause the skirt i? to also hug the bowl as at the rim for increased sealing engagement.

The container It may be assembled by stretching the contracting edge portion 53 over the rim or side wall of the bowl, whereby the cover is reliably mounted on the latter without any other manipulation. The contractile means and the skirt portion IT may have sufilcient yield to adapt the cover for use on bowls of different sizes and with some variation in shape. Nevertheless a snug and relatively airtight engagement may be obtained at the joint l8 between the cover and container body. Further, the top wall I6 is yieldable or expandible, and the skirt portion I? is movable relatively to the container body, or expandible therewith, to thus vary the capacity of the container III, while maintaining the same closed. For example, if certain food products 59 are disposed in the container, they are maintained clean, and with their moisture content preserved and withoutcontamination by other foods or the odors thereof. The amount of the food products may be substantially greater than the capacity of the bowl, and the cover may be adjustably applied to afford the required capacity. In certain instances, as in shaping foods, it is desirable that the same shall be compressed, and the cover may function for this purpose to exert a continuous pressure, mild or strong on the foods, according to the strength of the elastic means. The cover l2 may be easily removed by grasping an edge or top portion thereof, and it may be cleaned and washed, and may be reversibly mounted on the bowl. V

In Fig. 3 is shown a modification 'ofthe invention, which may include a container 20 comprising a container body or bowl 2! and a cover 22 therefor. Thelcontainer 20 may be in all respects like container l0, except that the interengaging structure portion is changed as follows. The bowl 2| may have an outside marginal recess 23, affording a continuous annular lip 2, whereby the elastic portion 25 of the cover is seated in the recess, so that the skirt portionjmay extend above the bowl to prevent the cover from pressing on the-contents of the bowl. The elastic means 25 may include an infolded marginal hem forming portion 21 of the cover, and an elastic band 28 therein.

In Fig. 4 is shown a device 29 embodying the invention and including an arrangement for providing a. particularly effective sealed joint and for yieldably limiting downward movement of the cover over the rim of the bowl. Thus an annular band of elastic material 30, such as sponge rubber, may be cemented or stitched at 3| to the cover, the latter desirably having an inturned marginal portion 32 for housing an edge portion of the band 30. The upper edge portion 32 of said band may be adapted to curl inward over the top of the container rim as shown to thus aflord a seatlng'portion on the container rim and to provide extended sealing contact. The cover 33 is thus adapted to be pulled down on the bowl 34, until the band engages around and partially seats on the rim 35 to thus maintain the top of the cover unstretched and in relatively loose condition.

In Fig. 5 is shown a device 36 according to another modification which exemplifies a container which need not be air tight, and the container body or bowl 3? thereof having a cover 38 which may have a preferably central opening 39. The device 38 is in all other respects like any of the devices hereinbefore described, but shows the use of the invention in a beating or mixing device. Thus a movable part such as a spoon 40 may be inserted through the opening 39 into the bowl to beat or agitate the contents thereof, with the cover 38 preventing spilling oi. the contents and the edge of the opening 39 being yielding with the cover limp to afford added latitude in the movement of the spoon.

It will be understood that the different or modified structural features herein shown may be interchangeably used as may be desirable to provide a device having the advantages desired.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made in the device as shown in the drawing, and that the same is submitted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims. 1

I claim: v

1. A food preserving device, including a food container having a relatively uniform mouth defining rim, and a cover for said mouth comprising a one piece substantially disc shaped member consisting of oiled silk and encircled by a binding of a flexible elastic material of normally less length than the circumference of said member and substantially continuously permanently engaged with the edge portion of said member so that contraction can produce gathers therein so as to secure said member over the mouth of the container and around the outside thereof, and said elastic binding removably securing said member to the container, whereby said cover is adapted for use with containers of different sizes for the preservation of foods therein.

2. A food preserving container cover, consisting of a one piece substantially disc shaped member of oiled silk having a binding of a flexible elastic material of normally less length than the circumference of said member, said binding being permanently substantially continuously secured to the edge portion of said member so that contraction can produce gathers in the edge portion of said member, whereby the cover is adapted to be removably mounted on containers of diiferent sizes for the relatively air tight preservation of foods therein.

SAMUEL J. BRANDSTEIN. 

